Chief of Police - Thomas E. Hunker

Thomas E. Hunker has dedicated the past 37 years to the law enforcement profession, of which 28 years were spent at the Miami Beach Police Department.  He has devoted much of his career to the enforcement and prosecution of narcotics traffickers while focusing the latter part of his career on law enforcement administration.  After his retirement from the Miami Beach Police Department, he spent four years at the North Miami Beach Police Department as the executive commander in charge of investigations.  He was the operational commander of the South Florida Money Laundering Task Force for six years and is currently the Chief of the Bal Harbour Police Department.

Chief Hunker was selected as the assistant chief of the Bal Harbour Police Department in November of 2002 and was promoted to chief in April of 2003.  In the six years that the Chief Hunker has lead the department, he has continued with his pursuit of drug traffickers by initiating the first ever multi-agency narcotics task force in Bal Harbour and K-9 handler.  To patrol the area’s waterways, a marine unit was also initiated which includes a 35 foot police vessel and a certified marine operator for every shift providing 24 hour coverage.  The Chief’s experiences at the Miami Beach and North Miami Beach Police Departments and his other qualifications can all be directly linked to the accomplishments he’s had at Bal Harbour.

In addition to over 37 years of law enforcement experience, Chief Hunker has a Bachelors of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Florida International University.  He has received specialized training in narcotics both at the FBI/DEA Drug Commanders Course in Quantico, VA and the IPTM Drug Commanders Course at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.  Chief Hunker has published papers on narcotics investigations and has instructed at the Drug Winnipeg, Canada.  He has qualified as an expert witness in narcotics and money laundering investigations both in Federal and State courts throughout the United States, Europe and Canada.  He has also been a guest speaker for the National Institute of Justice on Domestic Terrorism and conducted numerous in-service training seminars for local South Florida police agencies.  Chief Hunker is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Florida Police Chiefs Association and the past President of the Miami Dade County Chiefs of Police Association.

In addition to all of his professional achievements, Chief Hunker has been married for 30 years.  Together he and his wife Marian have three children, Thomas 29, Brian 27, Katie 25, and beautiful granddaughter Grace Marie.